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Friday August 15, 2008

Farewell, but not goodbye, to a heavy hitter in the community

Too often the phrase “end of an era” veers close to cliché. But with the retirement today of American Jewish Committee regional director Ernie Weiner, we can safely say this is indeed the end of an era.

A 38-year-long era at that. The year Weiner took the job, Richard Nixon sat in the Oval Office, Golda Meir served as Israel’s prime minister and Paul McCartney announced the breakup of the Beatles.

During his tenure, Weiner executed the mission of AJCommittee to perfection: strengthening ties between Jews and non-Jews, supporting minority groups in their struggle for equality and conveying a strong pro-Israel message. Though he was more conservative politically than most San Franciscans, he was always fair, championing the entire Jewish community in all its diversity.

Our story this week details his many accomplishments and gives friends and admirers a chance to praise the man.

We’re sure nothing could make Weiner more uncomfortable. The 83-year-old one-time amateur boxer is a heavyweight champion in modesty, always deflecting adulation and the spotlight.

It was like pulling teeth just to get him to agree to be interviewed.

Perhaps that’s why he performed his job so well. AJCommittee works behind the scenes, quietly forming bonds with other ethnic and religious groups. He was a quiet, steady leader, and our community, indeed all of Northern California, owes him a debt of gratitude.

Weiner’s replacement, Mervyn Danker, former head of school at Ronald C. Wornick Jewish Day School in Foster City, is a worthy successor. He knows this community well and has proven his bona fides as a strong Jewish leader. AJCommittee is in good hands.

Yet the departure of a legend always gives us pause. We depend on dedicated leaders like Ernie Weiner to do the tasks that vouchsafe the Jewish community’s progress and prosperity.

Just as importantly, we depend on them to stick with it. There’s no way to calculate the importance of institutional memory and longevity. Weiner bridged several generations in this community. He knew the players. He mentored the younger leaders. We take his departure hard.

There does come a time when those younger leaders must step up and carry on. They provide the continuity that takes our community forward.

Fortunately, Weiner will stay nearby. He will now serve as a consultant to AJCommittee, offering his wise counsel. It wouldn’t be like him to just “go fishing,” as his wife, Shirley Weiner, so wryly points out.

Thank you, Ernie, for a job well done. L’hitraot.

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